[Rhodes22-list] Ocean Sailing

[eric.charles.newburger at census.gov]

About three years ago I met a fellow who single-handed from California to
French Polynesia and back on a Flika (if I am remembering the name
correctly).  I asked him a few questions and read his book.  He survived,
and took pride in his accomplishment.   But he did not have a good time out
there.

This was a 20 foot boat designed for blue water passages and built by
Pacific Seacraft---thick hull, much heavier ballast than a Rhodes and more
stable, lots of storage spaces and a tiny cockpit--this boat was basically
a barrel with a sail attached.  It looked neat, and worked, and his wife
flew out to meet him, and--during their island hopping--they had a grand
time.  Overall, he loved the trip.

However, he was quite clear on two points....
1.  He got the crap beaten out of him on the blue water crossings.  Even in
heavy boat for it's size, 20 feet just didn't provide a lot of protection
from ocean wave action.  He was a middle aged guy and felt every bruise for
a good while, and if he'd had a dime more he would have bought bigger.
2.  Amidst the safety gear and repair gear and spare sails and the rest of
the stuff the boat had to have, he had a tough time storing enough food and
water for himself on the long passages.  Had his wife gone along for the
blue water trips, they would have had to ration pretty tightly.  They could
have done it, but again, his message was that even a little bigger would
have been more comfortable.

I would like to conclude my lecture by leaving you with the following
thought about proper boat size for blue water.....
Good gracious, man!  Even the Pardeys have moved into a 30 footer!

Thank you, and good morning,

Eric Newburger


                                                                                                                                             
                      "Richard Smith"                                                                                                        
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                      09/10/2004 09:19 AM                                                                                                    
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The cockpit of the Rhodes is to large, the self draining is to slow and the
seal of the cockpit liner is not tight enough to make the boat a candidate
for ocean voyaging.

Look elsewhere for small boats that are more appropriate for ocean
passages.

Richard Smith

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